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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Mainsforth on Thursday 13 February 20 17:13 GMT (UK)
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I have been unable to find details about the death/burial of my ancestor Mary Baister - her name when she was born about 1816. Any help I can get with this would be much appreciated. Mary was married at least twice so I have searched for her death using Mary Fletcher and Mary Ridley
Some of the info I have found in UK Parish Records, Censuses and Civil Records about Mary is:-
Mary Baister herself
Baptised. Houghton Le Spring, Durham, England 18 Feb 1816.
Place of birth West Herrington, Houghton Le Spring, Durham, England FHL #1885558 item p 80
Lived Tanfield, Durham, England 30 Mar 1851
Lived Tanfield, Durham, England 7 Apr 1861
Mary’s Marriages
Married Edward Jackson Kay Fletcher. St John’s, Gateshead Fell, Durham, England 1 Nov 1836
Married Joseph Ridley. Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England 9 Sept 1849
Joseph was previously married to Sarah Drummond at St Mary’s, Whickham, Durham, England 16 Feb 1829. Sarah died before 29 Jan 1846
Mary’s Children
Jane Baister Fletcher Daughter born. Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England 13 April 1834
Edward Fletcher Son born Charles Street, Gateshead, Durham, England 8 Sept 1840
Robert Baker Fletcher Son born out of wedlock Clough Dean, Tanfield, Durham, England 15 Nov 1848
Elizabeth Ridley Daughter Born Clough Dean, Tanfield, Durham, England 12 Oct 1850
Mary’s Stepchildren
James Ridley Stepson Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1836
Sarah Ridley Stepdaughter Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1839
William Ridley Stepson born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1841
Joseph Ridley Stepson born Clow Dean [Clough Dean], Tanfield, Durham, England 23 Feb 1843
Daniel Ridley Stepson Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1845
Another child connected with Mary
Jane Hardy Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1849
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I see that she was living at Clough Dean in 1861
The free index to Durham Records Online shows the death in 1870 in Lanchester RD (which included Tanfield) of a Mary Ridley, aged 54, residence Clough Dean,. You would have to buy credits to see the full burial entry. https://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/NewSearch.php
The matching death would be 2nd q. 1870, Durham 10a, 167, Mary Ridley aged 53.
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Looking at the Durham Records Online free search it looks likely that Joseph, Mary's husband also died in 1870 and was buried in the same churchyard.
If you are confused by the Registration Districts being different for the burial and the death index reference, bear in mind that Tanfield was in Lanchester RD (as specified by Durham Records Online) from 1837-1838. Then it was in Durham RD (as specified by the GRO death index) from 1838-1875 before the RDs were re-jigged again and Tanfield came under Lanchester RD once more.
These two pages show the movement
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/durham.html
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/lanchester.html
Family Search do have digital images of Tanfield parish registers and include burials 1813-1948,
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/122516?availability=Family%20History%20Library
the key symbol above the camera icon means they can only be viewed if you visit an LDS Family History Centre. Other than that the registers are held by Durham Record Office.
Boo
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I have transcribed the Parish Records of Tanfield St. Margaret myself so I can give you the following information.
Mary RIDLEY of Clow Dean was buried on 04-Jun-1870, aged 53 years.
Joseph RIDLEY of Clow Dean was buried on 31-Oct-1879, aged 64 years.
The Baptism Register records the following baptism:
Baptised on 24-Nov-1850. Robert (illegitimate) son of Robert BAKER and Mary FLETCHER of Cleugh Dean.
I hope this is helpful.
Albert McTalbert.
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Sorry.
Joseph RIDLEY was of Cleugh Dean was buried on 31-Oct-1870, aged 64 years.
McTalbert
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I have transcribed the Parish Records of Tanfield St. Margaret myself so I can give you the following information.
As you have transcribed these registers, would you consider offering the transcript to the FreeReg project? Looking at the database they don't seem to have any records post 1844 and, if you are willing, it would really help other researchers.
Boo
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JenB, TickettyBoo and McTalbert
Looking into the life of Mary Baister has caused me many more problems than I have had with the lives of my other ancestors and those of my wife. I took a few months break from family history because of the stumbling blocks I met finding info about Mary. Your posts give me the final pieces I need to finish her story.
Being a belt and braces man, it was nice to hear from a transcriber of original parish records.
Thank you all for responding to my cry for help.
Mainsforth
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McTalbert
Thank you for the above mentions of Clow Dean and Cleugh Dean. They could be one of the reasons my search for info about Mary’s death ran into difficulties.
When anyone is having difficulty finding records for ancestors in Clough Dean, Tanfield, County, Durham might like to try also putting Clow Dean, Clow Dene, Cleugh Dean or Clough Dene - one by one - in as the "location" to be Searched for.
They might also find an outline map of parishes adjacent to Tanfield St Margaret of interest - http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/article/11113?SearchType=Param&Variations=N&Parish=Tanfield+St.+Margaret&RegType=Burials&StartDate1870&EndDate1870&Denomination=Church+of+England&OrderBy=NAME&ItemID=598069.
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Mainsforth,
In addition to the Parish Registers, I also prepared full details of the headstones in Tanfield St. Margaret's Churchyard.
Whilst there are quite a few RIDLEY headstones there is not, unfortunately, a headstone for Joseph and Mary.
If there is anything else you want from the Registers, please let me know.
McTalbert
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Just to add re post 1 marriage to Joseph Ridley - Marriage Locator indicates this took place at St Nicholas.
http://www.marriage-locator.co.uk/cgi-bin/ML_search.cgi?year=1849&qtr=3&vol=25&page=338&search=search
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That marriage entry is on FS and was indeed at St Nicholas
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6GK-2W4
Mainsforth, if you don't have the record and would like it, the image can be viewed at a Family History Centre - or a digital copy from the parish register could be ordered from Northumberland Archives for £4.25 - which is a LOT cheaper than a GRO cert and you get the bonus of it being a scan of the original record, complete with the signatures of all concerned (or their X if they weren't able to sign!)
Boo
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McTalbert
Thank you for your offer of help to get info from Durham Parish Registers. I spent the first 26 years of my life in South West Durham - my forum id comes from the village in which I spent my late teens. I now live in Hampshire and find it impossible to get back to the County of my birth.
Thank you for telling me there is no headstone for Mary and Joseph in the Tanfield St Margaret's Churchyard.
A couple of years back I found a photo - at
https://www.gravestonephotos.com/search/fullnamesearch.php?forename=Frances&surname=Fletcher&area=Durham&search=Full+name&exactforename=no&exactsurname=yes (https://www.gravestonephotos.com/search/fullnamesearch.php?forename=Frances&surname=Fletcher&area=Durham&search=Full+name&exactforename=no&exactsurname=yes)- of a headstone for her son Edward Fletcher (born 8 Sept 1840, died 21 Jan 1892). The name of his wife, Frances Fletcher (baptised 22 Mar 1837, died 15 Jun 1881) - maiden name Trueman - is the first name on the headstone. Martha Hannah Fletcher (born Apr to June 1871, died Jan to Mar 1872), their daughter, is the second.
River Tyne Lass
Thank you for your post about the marriage of Joseph and Mary.
Tikettyboo
Thanks for your for your tip that it is cheaper to get a digital copy from a Parish Register from the Northumberland Archives than from the GRO. I will bear it in mind when looking for "hard copy" where documents might be held by a local authority. I unfortunately bought a certificate from the GRO last year.